On Wednesday, state Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie announced Queensland would do just that, introducing the Succession to the Crown Bill 2013 into Parliament.

In a statement announcing the bill, Mr Bleijie said "Queensland would reserve its right as a sovereign state to amend its own laws regarding the royal succession".

Advertisement

The reforms to the succession rules contained in the bill allow for succession regardless of gender, to remove the bar on succession of an heir and successor of the sovereign who marries a Catholic and to limit the requirement for the sovereign's consent to the marriage of a descendent of King George II to the first six people who are in line to the throne.

The change to the succession rules were raised following the news Prince William and his duchess were expecting a child. The change seeks to ensure any first-born daughter would not be disadvantaged in the line to the throne.

“Queensland is proud of its own relationship with the monarchy and as a sovereign state it should look to preserve this status at all times," Mr Bleijie said in a statement.

Mr Newman had caused controversy at the COAG meeting in December last year when he stood alone in his stance that the states should pass their own legislation to signal their support to the changes being drafted in the UK Parliament.

The Queensland government's general objection to the federal government suggestion the states should pass laws referring to the Commonwealth the ability to make changes to the succession rules was the "longstanding historical ties and relationship" the Crown shared with each state "from their origins as colonies".

At the time, Mr Bleijie referred to Section 7 of the Australia Act 1986 (Commonwealth) stating it "impinged upon this general principle and the proposed implementation of succession rules should not aggravate this situation".

The bill is expected to be debated next month and given the Liberal National Party majority, passed in due course.

- with Daniel Hurst

70 comments

The AGs' statement says it all..

In a statement announcing the bill, Mr Bleijie said "Queensland would reserve its right as a SOVEREIGN state to amend its own laws regarding the royal succession".

SOVEREIGN.... simple to understand.

Commenter

Jock Frazza

Location

Qld

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 7:28AM

Queensland isn't a sovereign state by any stretch of the imagination and never has been. It's part of a federated commonwealth which is the only organisation in the picture that has sovereignty (including the right to establish diplomatic relations with other sovereign states, print currency, raise armies etc). Pre-Federation it was just a colony with a local Parliament.

This is really cringeworthy stuff.

Commenter

Surak

Location

Kir'Shara

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 8:33AM

@ surak

chringeworthy.. yes.. .

More intense reading is required on your part , meThinks

Commenter

Jock Frazza

Location

Qld

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 8:59AM

I look forward to the 'Sovereign' state of Queensland acting as a proper Sovereign state and raising its own taxes, establishing adequate border controls and policies, providing its own defense and its own embassies/consulates in other Sovereign states. I also look forward to Prime Minister Newman insisting on our Sovereign rights to host our own teams under our own flag in the next Commonwealth Games. Any of our sovereignty that has been ceeded in the past 112 years to the Federation must be reclaimed! I wonder what national anthem we should choose? And would our passport be 'maroon'?

Commenter

Bluey

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 9:36AM

Jock Frazza: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. You are actually the one who needs to do a lot more reading - and I don't mean from Google!

Commenter

Rosie

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 10:04AM

I can't see how the above indicates you are being satirical (if that was your intent). Perhaps you need to work on your sarcasm. :)

My point stands anyway even if not directed at you specifically.

Commenter

Surak

Location

Kir'Shara

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 10:07AM

OK , I will make it easier for you should you not want to read up on the Subject.

Firstly another Writer below, non watermelon, has explained one of Qlds Sovereign Rights.

19 years of Labor and they didn't attempt to get rid of it.

Better though .. Scotland is a Sovereign Nation... in a Union with England and it's called... The United Kingdon etc etc.

Soon , It may , once again be a seperate sovereigh Nation.

What can be joined can be un-joined.

That's in the Australian Constitution..

Amen

Commenter

Jock Frazza

Location

Qld

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 10:21AM

Surak, Queensland IS a sovereign state. So are all the other Australian states. But they are not nation states.

Commenter

Mike

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 11:59AM

Maybe we need to set up a Penal Settlement in Moreton Bay and to send for more rum and convicts from the mother land -

what a silly waste of bureaucrats time.

Commenter

Mr magic

Location

Far North

Date and time

February 14, 2013, 12:03PM

Queensland has NEVER been a sovereign state.

Prior to the act of federation, Queensland was a colony of Britain with limited self determination.Queensland laws were secondary to British law, Queensland Courts were secondary to the British Privy Council etc.

It took a British act of parliament to empower Queensland to either become a state of Australia UNDER it's Constitution or become a separate state as New Zealand chose.

What happens now if due to some minor difference in wording, Queensland ends up with a different head of state to Australia, or Britain itself for that matter?